Yamamoto Unveils New Limited-Time Color

Bass News

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February 25, 2025

Yamamoto Unveils New Limited-Time Color

February 24, 2025

Yamamoto Baits just keeps adding and innovating. “Violet Flash”, a limited-time color designed by pro angler Matt Becker, is the newest addition to Yamamoto’s robust line of options.

Irving, TX – “Violet Flash features a stunning chrome finish with subtle purple accents,” explains Jack Dice, GSM Product Development Manager. “It is the perfect option when looking to mimic the natural shimmer of shad or other baitfish with a flash that catches big bass. We’re always looking to expand and improve our offerings, and Violet Flash does just that.”

Available in multiple shapes including the 3.75″ Shad Shape Worm, the Scope Shad, and the D-Shad, Violet Flash is ready to shine in any fishing scenario. Hurry, though! Violet Flash is a limited-time release, available only through Baits.com.

For more information on Yamamoto Baits, please visit their website HERE, or find them on Facebook and other social media avenues.

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MLF Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats Returns to Sam Rayburn for Southwestern Division Event

Brian Carter

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February 25, 2025

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MLF Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats Returns to Sam Rayburn for Southwestern Division Event

Boater Kaden Mueck of Livingston, Texas, who finished runner-up at the Toyota Series at Sam Rayburn Reservoir in January, will again be among the competitors fishing for up to $100,000 on Sam Rayburn Reservoir at the MLF Toyota Series event, March 6-8.

BROOKELAND, Texas (Feb. 25, 2025) – The Major League Fishing (MLF) Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats is returning to Sam Rayburn Reservoir, next week, March 6-8, for the second Southwestern division tournament of the 2025 season – the Toyota Series at Sam Rayburn Reservoir.

The three-day tournament, hosted by the Jasper-Lake Sam Rayburn Area Chamber of Commerce, will showcase the region’s top bass-fishing boaters and co-anglers competing for a grand prize of up to $100,000 in the pro division and a new Phoenix 518 Pro boat with a 115-horsepower outboard motor plus $5,000 in the co-angler division.

Known for its consistent production of trophy-sized bass and limits, Sam Rayburn Reservoir is a hotspot for diverse strategies, especially during the transitional pre-spawn period. Local standout Kaden Mueck of Livingston, Texas, who finished in second-place at the first Toyota Series event on Sam Rayburn earlier this year, anticipates another action-packed showdown.

“This time of year, the fish are really spread out – you’ve got some shallow, some staging, and some already making moves to spawn,” said Mueck, who also competes for the Stephen F. Austin College Fishing team. “I’ll be targeting the prespawners – they’re bigger, and they tend to group up better. But we’ll definitely see some solid shallow-water patterns playing out too.”

The versatility of Sam Rayburn ensures that anglers will be able to choose their preferred approach, whether it’s punching shallow grass, cranking offshore structure, or deploying forward-facing sonar to target fish on the move. When it comes to baits, expect to see proven Rayburn staples and some innovative techniques.

“A Bill Lewis Rat-L-Trap is a go-to for this time of year,” Mueck said. “We’ll also see some guys dragging Carolina rigs, throwing swimjigs, and possibly some glide baits or swimbaits offshore. And, of course, throwing a minnow using forward-facing sonar. That’s going to be a strong pattern, no doubt.”

With fish staging near drains and the mouths of spawning flats, targeting these transitional areas will be crucial.

“Those staging fish are the big ones, and they’ll make the difference if you can find them,” Mueck added.

“It’s going to take every bit of 70 pounds to win over three days,” Mueck went on to predict. “It takes close to 30 pounds to win any local tournament, and I think we’ll see something similar here. Someone will crack a 30-pound bag, at least one day. It’s doing it for three days that is the hard part.”

Anglers will begin each day at 7 a.m. CT, launching from the Umphrey Family Pavilion at 5438 Sam Rayburn Parkway in Brookeland. Weigh-ins will take place at the same location, starting at 3 p.m. daily. Fans are invited to attend in person and can also stay connected by following the “MLF Live” weigh-in broadcasts and daily updates on MajorLeagueFishing.com.

In Toyota Series regular-season competition, payouts are based on the number of participants competing in the event, scaling up for every 20 boats over 160 and scaling down for every boat below 160. With a 160-boat field, pros fish for a top prize of up to $75,000, if Phoenix MLF Bonus qualified. Strike King co-anglers cast for the top prize of a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard (valued at $33,500). With a 260-boat field, pros fish for a top award of up to $100,000, if Phoenix MLF Bonus qualified. Strike King co-anglers cast for the top prize of a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard plus $5,000 cash.

The 2025 Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats consists of five divisions – Central, Northern, Plains, Southern and the Southwestern – each holding three regular-season events, along with the International and Wild Card divisions. Anglers who fish in any of the five divisions or the Wild Card division and finish in the top 25 will qualify for the no-entry-fee Toyota Series Championship for a shot at winning up to $235,000 and a qualification to REDCREST 2026. The winning Strike King co-angler at the championship earns a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower outboard. The 2025 Toyota Series Championship will be held Nov. 6-8 on Grand Lake in Grove, Oklahoma, and is hosted by the City of Grove Convention & Tourism Bureau.

Proud sponsors of the 2025 MLF Toyota Series include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, Deep Dive App, E3 Sports Apparel, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Grizzly, Humminbird, Lew’s, Mercury, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, Polaris, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Strike King, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, WIX Filters and YETI.

For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Toyota Series updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the MLF5 social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

2025 Bassmaster High School, Junior National Championships headed to Clarks Hill Lake

Brian Carter

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February 25, 2025

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2025 Bassmaster High School, Junior National Championships headed to Clarks Hill Lake

The Strike King Bassmaster High School National Championship and Bassmaster Junior National Championship will head to Clarks Hill Lake in Evans, Ga., in July.

Photo by Tyler Bridges/B.A.S.S.

Feb. 25, 2025

2025 Bassmaster High School, Junior National Championships headed to Clarks Hill Lake

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — B.A.S.S. officials announced today that the Bassmaster Junior National Championship will be held July 25-26 on Clarks Hill Lake in Evans, Ga., followed by the Strike King Bassmaster High School National Championship July 31-Aug. 2. Visit Columbia County will host both events, with daily takeoffs and weigh-ins held at Wildwood Park.

The Junior Series National Championship will feature qualifying anglers from grades second through eighth, while the High School Series National Championship will have a field comprised of eighth- to 12th-graders. With the High School and Junior Series kicking off the season last month on the Harris Chain in Leesburg, Fla., young anglers are busy qualifying now through regular-season events at both levels.

“We are thrilled to welcome the Bassmaster High School/ Junior Series Championship to Clarks Hill Lake,” said Shelly Blackburn, Visit Columbia County Georgia’s executive director. “Hosting this prestigious event is an incredible honor, and we are excited to showcase the natural beauty and hospitality of Columbia County to anglers and spectators alike. The economic impact of this championship will be significant, bringing numerous visitors and opportunities to our local businesses and residents. We look forward to a successful and memorable event that highlights the very best of what our community has to offer.”

Chase Clarke perfectly executed a big-bass pattern to win the weather-shortened St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Clarks Hill Reservoir presented by SEVIIN last month with a two-day total of 47 pounds, 7 ounces.

The 2022 Auburn University graduate caught three 6-pound-or-better largemouth during the tournament, two on the first day that lifted him to a daily total of 25-14 and one on the second day that anchored his 21-9 Day 2 total. Those two bags propelled him over second-place Blaine Bunney by 6-plus pounds.

“I’m super-excited about these National Championships,” said Glenn Cale, B.A.S.S. tournament manager for the College, High School and Junior Series. “I’m excited about sharing the stage with the best student anglers in the country and having this event on the outstanding fishery that is Clarks Hill Lake.”

2025 Bassmaster High School Series Title Sponsor: Strike King

2025 Bassmaster High School Series Platinum Sponsor: Toyota
2025 Bassmaster High School Series Premier Sponsors: Bass Pro Shops, Dakota Lithium, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Progressive Insurance, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2025 Bassmaster High School Series Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Garmin, Lew’s, Lowrance, Marathon, Triton Boats, VMC

2025 Bassmaster High School Series Youth Sponsors: Seaguar, Shimano

Lake Murray Readies for MLF Bass Pro Tour PowerStop Brakes Stage 3 Presented by Strike King

Brian Carter

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February 25, 2025

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Lake Murray Readies for MLF Bass Pro Tour PowerStop Brakes Stage 3 Presented by Strike King

$150,000 Top Prize Up for Grabs in Columbia Next Week as 66 Anglers Battle it Out on Lake Murray, Follow the Competition Live All Four Days at MajorLeagueFishing.com

COLUMBIA, S.C. (Feb. 25, 2025) – The Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour is set to visit Columbia, South Carolina, and Lake Murray next week, March 6-9, for the third regular-season event of the 2025 Bass Pro Tour – the PowerStop Brakes Stage 3 at Lake Murray Presented by Strike King.

Hosted by the Capital City/Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism Board, the four-day tournament will feature 66 of the world’s top professional anglers competing for a $150,000 top prize, crucial points in the Fishing Clash Angler of the Year (AOY) race and coveted qualification spots for the Heavy Hitters all-star event and REDCREST 2026.

The star-studded lineup will showcase top professionals and local fan favorites, including defending Lake Murray champion and Prosperity, South Carolina local, Anthony Gagliardi, reigning Fishing Clash AOY Jacob Wheeler, and REDCREST 2024 Champion Dustin Connell. Joining them are South Carolina standouts Casey Ashley, Andy Montgomery, Britt Myers , and the father-son duo of Marty and Marshall Robinson , all eager to capitalize on their home-state advantage.

The tournament will feature the MLF catch, weigh, immediate-release format, in which anglers catch as much weight as they can each day, while also feeling the pressure and intensity of the SCORETRACKER® leaderboard. The tournament is being filmed for broadcast later this year on Discovery.

“Capital City/Lake Murray Country is honored to host this prestigious event that will showcase the natural beauty and world-class fishing opportunities that Lake Murray has to offer,” said Miriam Atria, President and CEO of Capital City/Lake Murray Country. “Our region is a premier destination for anglers and outdoor enthusiasts alike. Lake Murray is a highly competitive fishery, and we know it will deliver a challenging event with strong final weights.”

The Bass Pro Tour last visited Lake Murray in 2023, where Gagliardi added another major victory to his impressive record on his home lake. His success on the fishery includes a 2006 FLW Tour win, a 2014 Forrest Wood Cup title and a runner-up finish at the 2021 Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit event – a tournament won by fellow Bass Pro Tour competitor Matt Becker , underscoring the high level of competition that defines this event.

When asked about the conditions and expectations, Gagliardi shared insights into how he anticipates the tournament unfolding.

“I know that it’s fishing good. It always does this time of year,” Gagliardi said. “You can catch them on a lot of different things, so I think the guys are going to have fun because they’re going to catch fish – big fish – in a variety of ways.”

Taking current weather patterns into consideration, Gagliardi said he believes the event will fall squarely in the pre-spawn stage.

“We’re kind of in a place where the spawn can really move. Sometimes they spawn in February, sometimes not until April. It depends on the winter and recent weather. We’ve had some cold spells and a warm week, but I think it’s going to be a pre-spawn event. It’s just not warm enough to push a lot of fish into the spawn, yet.”

With multiple ways to target bass, Gagliardi expects a mix of techniques to play a role throughout the tournament.

“There will be fish caught in all depths,” the Suzuki pro explained. “Some guys will fish shallow with crankbaits, spinnerbaits and flipping jigs around cover. Others will focus on jerkbaits or forward-facing sonar. It’s really going to be a typical pre-spawn deal, with ChatterBaits, crankbaits, dragging a worm and flipping a jig all coming into play. There’s not really a way you could fish this lake right now and not catch one.”

As for tournament weights, Gagliardi admits it’s difficult to predict.

“I’ve never fished a tournament here in the everything-counts format. Last time, I won under the five-fish limit format. Looking at it that way, you’re going to have mid-20-pound bags, and then who knows how many fish beyond that? Maybe someone cracks 100 pounds. I’d guess that 30 pounds a day would be a solid mark to advance, but we’ll have to see how it plays out.”

Despite his history of success on Lake Murray, Gagliardi remains cautious about his chances at another win on his hometown fishery.

“I never feel good about it going in. Even though I’ve done well, I’m always leery,” Gagliardi said. “I honestly don’t fish the lake as much as I should, even though I live here. I know the lake well, but I don’t always know the bite for a given time of year. Every time I’ve won, it’s been doing something different than I expected.

“I’m a little nervous going into it, like I always am before any big tournament, but I enjoy fishing the lake and it’ll be fun. It’s just the lead-up that gets me – figuring out how to practice, when to use forward-facing sonar and how to adapt. That’s what stresses me out the most. But once we hit the water, it’s all about figuring things out fast enough to stay in productive areas.”

Anglers will launch at 7:15 a.m. ET each day from Dreher Island State Park, located at 3677 State Park Road in Prosperity. Each day’s takeout will be held at the same location, beginning at 3:45 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend all launch and takeout events and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLFNOW!® live stream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

On Saturday and Sunday, March 8-9 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. MLF welcomes fans of all ages to visit Dreher Island State Park for the MLF Fan Experience & Watch Party. Fans can watch the pros live on the MLFNOW! big screen, enjoy free food, participate in casting contests, enter to win hourly giveaways and cheer on their favorite pros. The first 50 kids 14 and under will receive a free rod and reel each day. The Bass Pro Tour anglers will be on hand both days to meet and greet fans, sign autographs and take selfies.

The PowerStop Brakes Stage 3 at Lake Murray Presented by Strike King will feature anglers competing with a 2-pound minimum weight requirement for a bass to be deemed scorable. The MLF Fisheries Management Division determines minimum weights for each body of water that the Bass Pro Tour visits, based on the productivity, bass population and anticipated average size of fish in each fishery.

The 2025 Bass Pro Tour features a field of 66 of the top professional anglers in the world, competing across seven regular-season tournaments around the country, for millions of dollars and valuable points to qualify for the annual Heavy Hitters all-star event and the REDCREST 2026 championship.

The full field of anglers will compete in the two-day Qualifying Round on Thursday and Friday. After the two-day Qualifying Round is complete, the pro with the highest two-day total will advance directly to Sunday’s Championship Round. Anglers that finish 2nd through 20th will advance to Saturday’s Knockout Round. In the Knockout Round, weights are zeroed, and the remaining anglers compete to finish in the top nine to advance to Sunday’s Championship Round. In the final-day Championship Round, weights are zeroed, and the highest one-day total wins the top prize of $150,000.

The MLFNOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action live on all four days of competition from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET. MLFNOW!® will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com , the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app and Rumble.

Television coverage of the PowerStop Brakes Stage 3 at Lake Murray Presented by Strike King will premiere as a two-hour episode starting at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, Oct. 4 on Discovery, with the Championship Round premiering on Sunday, Oct. 5. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on Discovery, with re-airings on Outdoor Channel.

Proud sponsors of the 2025 MLF Bass Pro Tour include: 7Brew Coffee, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, Bass Force, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, BUBBA, E3 Sport Apparel, Fishing Clash, Grizzly, Lowrance, Mercury, MillerTech, Mossy Oak Fishing, NITRO, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Power-Pole, Rapala, Star brite, Suzuki and Toyota.

For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the Bass Pro Tour, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube.

Fishing Chaos is onboard to help take the NPFL to the next level in 2025.

Brian Carter

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February 25, 2025

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Fishing Chaos is onboard to help take the NPFL to the next level in 2025.

WILKESVILLE, Ohio—The National Professional Fishing League (NPFL) announces a new partnership with Fishing Chaos, a leading technology company in the competitive fishing industry. This collaboration marks a significant step forward in enhancing the NPFL’s tournament operations, angler experience, and fan engagement for the 2025 season.

Fishing Chaos is renowned for its cutting-edge tournament management solutions, real-time data tracking, and innovative digital tools that streamline operations for anglers and fans alike. By partnering with Fishing Chaos, the NPFL continues its commitment to providing a premier platform for professional anglers while delivering an unparalleled experience to fishing enthusiasts worldwide.

Brad Fuller, President of the NPFL, expressed his enthusiasm about the partnership: “We are excited to push the envelope with a great tech company like Fishing Chaos. They do some amazing things in the industry, and we look forward to blazing a new trail with them. Their platform will allow us to elevate our tournament experience for anglers, fans, and sponsors, ensuring the NPFL remains at the forefront of professional fishing.”

The partnership will bring enhanced features to NPFL tournaments, including real-time scoring, seamless angler communication, and improved digital integration for fans following the action.

John Calagaz, founder and Chief Executive Officer of Fishing Chaos, elaborated on his company’s role: “Our mission is to use technology to enhance the experience for both anglers and fans. We’re excited to partner with the NPFL and showcase how our platform can enhance the success of any tournament, trail, club, or series.”

The 2025 season promises to take the League to the next level. With Fishing Chaos onboard, the NPFL is poised to set a new standard in professional bass fishing.

NPFL and Fishing Chaos Form Strategic Partnership

The National Profesional Fishing League

Bruce Callis

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February 25, 2025

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NPFL and Fishing Chaos Form Strategic Partnership

Fishing Chaos is onboard to help take the NPFL to the next level in 2025.

WILKESVILLE, Ohio—The National Professional Fishing League (NPFL) announces a new partnership with Fishing Chaos, a leading technology company in the competitive fishing industry. This collaboration marks a significant step forward in enhancing the NPFL’s tournament operations, angler experience, and fan engagement for the 2025 season.

Fishing Chaos is renowned for its cutting-edge tournament management solutions, real-time data tracking, and innovative digital tools that streamline operations for anglers and fans alike. By partnering with Fishing Chaos, the NPFL continues its commitment to providing a premier platform for professional anglers while delivering an unparalleled experience to fishing enthusiasts worldwide.

Brad Fuller, President of the NPFL, expressed his enthusiasm about the partnership: “We are excited to push the envelope with a great tech company like Fishing Chaos. They do some amazing things in the industry, and we look forward to blazing a new trail with them. Their platform will allow us to elevate our tournament experience for anglers, fans, and sponsors, ensuring the NPFL remains at the forefront of professional fishing.”

The partnership will bring enhanced features to NPFL tournaments, including real-time scoring, seamless angler communication, and improved digital integration for fans following the action.

John Calagaz, founder and Chief Executive Officer of Fishing Chaos, elaborated on his company’s role: “Our mission is to use technology to enhance the experience for both anglers and fans. We’re excited to partner with the NPFL and showcase how our platform can enhance the success of any tournament, trail, club, or series.”

The 2025 season promises to take the League to the next level. With Fishing Chaos onboard, the NPFL is poised to set a new standard in professional bass fishing.

Dalton Burns & Stephen Costa Win Fishers of Men VA West on SML with 25.16lbs

Brian Carter

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February 24, 2025

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Dalton Burns & Stephen Costa Win Fishers of Men VA West on SML with 25.16lbs

PowerStop Brakes Returns as Title Sponsor of Bass Pro Tour Stage 3 at Lake Murray

Brian Carter

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February 24, 2025

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PowerStop Brakes Returns as Title Sponsor of Bass Pro Tour Stage 3 at Lake Murray

BENTON, Ky. (Feb. 24, 2025) – Major League Fishing (MLF), the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, announced today that PowerStop Brakes is renewing its sponsorship for the 2025 season, and stepping up as title sponsor of Bass Pro Tour Stage 3 at Lake Murray next week. This renewed partnership showcases PowerStop’s passion for the sport and its commitment to supporting anglers and fans alike.

“We’re thrilled to extend our relationship with Major League Fishing and Edwin Evers into 2025,” said Jake Walenga, Marketing Manager of PowerStop. “Whether it’s our high-performance brake upgrade kits or our new PowerClear™ windshield wiper kits, we’re dedicated to providing the reliability anglers need when towing their boats. MLF is an incredible platform, and we’re excited to see this year’s competition unfold.”

As PowerStop Brakes Stage 3 approaches, anticipation continues to grow following the wave of excitement and digital engagement seen at Stages 1 and 2. Hundreds of thousands of fishing fans tuned in to MLFNOW!^® livestreams, engaged on social media, and visited MLF’s digital platforms, putting the 2025 season on pace to be one of the most-watched seasons in league history. With PowerStop Brakes’ support, and the tremendous fishery known as the Jewel of South Carolina, Lake Murray, serving as the backdrop, Stage 3 is set to deliver more thrilling action and memorable moments for fans worldwide.

“PowerStop Brakes has been a fantastic partner of Major League Fishing,” said Chris Bork, MLF Vice President of Sponsorship and Sales Development. “Their dedication to innovation and reliability resonates with our audience, and their continued support elevates not only the competition but also the overall experience for our fans and anglers. Together, we’re making professional fishing more exciting and accessible than ever before.”

PowerStop Brakes has also renewed its sponsorship of pro angler Edwin Evers, one of the most accomplished and celebrated anglers in MLF history with more than $4 million in career earnings and 79 top-10 finishes – including 13 career victories. During PowerStop Brakes Stage 3 at Lake Murray, fans can visit Edwin Evers’ social media channels to enter the PowerStop Brakes giveaway for a complete brake upgrade kit – the perfect addition for anglers hitting the road with a boat in tow.

The MLFNOW! broadcast team of Chad McKee and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action live on each day of competition from PowerStop Brakes Stage 3 at Lake Murray Presented by Strike King from 7:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. ET. MLFNOW! is livestreamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com, the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app and Rumble.

Television coverage of PowerStop Brakes Stage 3 at Lake Murray Presented by Strike King will premiere on Discovery as a two-hour episode starting at 7 a.m. ET Saturday, Oct. 4, with the Championship Round premiering Sunday, Oct. 5 at 7 a.m. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on Discovery, with re-airings on Outdoor Channel.

For additional information about MLF, its tournaments and sponsors, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. To learn more about PowerStop Brakes and its entire product line of braking systems, visit PowerStop.com.

Records Set at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Santee Cooper

Brian Carter

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February 24, 2025

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Records Set at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Santee Cooper

Boater winner Brent Riley of Cross, South Carolina, and co-angler winner Chuck Bagwell of Laurens, South Carolina.

Cross’ Riley Weighs in 12th largest limit in BFL history, Georgetown’s Pope ties all-time biggest bass record with 13-6 behemoth

SUMMERTON, S.C. (Feb. 24, 2025) – Boater Brent Riley of Cross, South Carolina, caught a five-bass limit weighing 35 pounds, 3 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine at Santee Cooper Lakes . The tournament, hosted by the Clarendon County Chamber of Commerce, was the third event of the season for the BFL South Carolina Division. Riley earned $2,890 for his victory.

Before diving into the incredible 35-plus-pound limit – the 12th largest limit in BFL history – that Riley caught on Santee, take a minute to think about this: His limit could’ve very easily approached 40. Riley, a local who lives on the lower lake, lost a big one at the boat early in the morning.

“I just had one of those days,” Riley said. “The first spot, I caught an 8-pounder. Second spot, I caught an 8-pounder and I lost two good ones – one about 7 pounds. Third spot, I caught one about 8. And fourth spot I caught one about 8. I had four right at 8 pounds and another one that was about 3 1/2. Then I culled twice for very little difference.

“What was crazy was watching the one that I lost that was right at the boat with my partner trying to get to it with the net. It got into a little bit of grass, and we watched it just spit out the lure and swim away. That was like my second fish, and I thought, ‘Woah, there it goes. There’s no recovering from that.’ And then it just got better and better. I thought, ‘Wow, how good a day am I having here?’”

Riley has had some pretty epic experiences in bass tournaments. He and a partner once weighed in a 60-pound 10-bass limit in a tournament. He also won an old Red Man tournament – the precursor to the BFL series – with an impressive mid-30s limit. And while catching 35-3 to kick off the 2025 season doesn’t quite compare to fishing the BFL All-American and the Bassmaster Classic, each of which Riley has done, it’s a pretty awesome milestone in a great grassroots bass fishing career. Especially since, according to Riley, who’s on the verge of turning 64, winning bass tournaments is getting tougher by the season. And last year was a pretty mediocre season by his standards. That all makes this win so much sweeter.

“I’m starting this year off with a bang,” Riley said.

As for the fishing, Santee Cooper is coming on strong with healthy grass growth, and this is the prime time of the year for catching big fish. Prior to the tournament, the bass were starting to move up. Then a cold front knocked them back a little bit. Riley and others expected the weather change to shut down the fish, but it was the exact opposite.

“They bit, and they bit good,” Riley said. “The fish had pulled back in the ditches, and when I caught that first one, it was a big one, and it was still shallow. They were in that 3 foot to where it dropped into 5 or 6 foot.”

Riley spent the tournament hopping around a handful of spots picking off a fish or two here and there, always focusing on areas where the bass are eventually going to spawn. He caught them pretty evenly from both lakes in the system – weighing three from Lake Moultrie and two from Lake Marion.

“I caught most of them on a Berkley Slobberknocker,” Riley said. “I had two on a Berkley Frittside, but the Slobberknocker is what the studs were on – all the big ones. They were in eelgrass more than anything. In the ditches, where it drops from 3 to 6, that grass seems to have survived, and it’s thicker there than anywhere else. I was just bumping the top of the grass. It took some touch keeping it out of the grass and in the strike zone.”

Reflecting on his remarkable day, Riley offered a special thanks to the team at Berkeley Outdoors, his boat dealer, for keeping him on the water and competing at a high level. And what a level it was on Saturday – one of the most impressive BFL victories in recent seasons.

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:

1st:        Brent Riley, Cross, S.C., five bass, 35-3, $2,890
2nd:       James Gibbons, Timmonsville, S.C., five bass, 31-3, $1,445
3rd:       Lucas Murphy, West Columbia, S.C., five bass, 27-12, $1,464 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
4th:        Kyle Austin, Ridgeville, S.C., five bass, 27-11, $674
5th:        Chad Sims, Lancaster, S.C., five bass, 26-11, $578
6th:        Robert Clarke III, Pineville, S.C., five bass, 26-5, $530
7th:        Gary Pope, Georgetown, S.C., four bass, 25-10, $812
8th:        Wendell Causey Jr., Irmo, S.C., five bass, 24-11, $433
9th:        Lane Clark, Anderson, S.C., five bass, 23-6, $385
10th:     Sandy Montgomery, Irmo, S.C., five bass, 21-13, $337

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Boater Gary Pope of Georgetown, South Carolina, tied the all-time BFL record for largest fish weighed with this 13 pound, 6 ounce behemoth. (Photo submitted by Gary Pope).

Ryan Armstrong Leads Wire-to-Wire, Wins Tackle Warehouse Invitational Stop 1 at the Kissimmee Chain

Brian Carter

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February 23, 2025

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Ryan Armstrong Leads Wire-to-Wire, Wins Tackle Warehouse Invitational Stop 1 at the Kissimmee Chain

Robinson, Illinois pro catches final day limit weighing 16-1 on Championship Sunday to earn $115,000 top prize

KISSIMMEE, Fla. (Feb. 23, 2025) – The 2025 Tackle Warehouse Invitationals opener at the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes was a wild ride from start to finish. Up and down the Top 10, young guns and veterans alike caught big ones all kinds of ways, and the results showed off the best of a really talented group.

This Invitationals season appears to have picked up where 2024 left off. One thing remained steady throughout the event, and it was pro Ryan Armstrong of Robinson, Illinois, at the top of the leaderboard. After blasting 29 pounds, 12 ounces to take the lead in Stop 1 Presented by VOSKER on the Kissimmee Chain, Armstrong backed it up again and again, only ever looking shaky late in the mornings before his afternoon bite picked up.

On Day 3, Armstrong weathered the morning, snatched up 16-1 in the afternoon and totaled up 68-6 for the win and an $80,000 paycheck.

Finishing second, pro Drew Gill of Mount Carmel, Illinois, weighed an even 62 pounds on the week. In third, rookie Banks Shaw of Harrison, Tennessee, got his year started off on the right foot with 61-10, and in fourth, bolstered by 28-5 on Day 2, Macon, Georgia’s Joshua Weaver earned another Florida Top 10 with 61-3.

Link to Photo Gallery of Day 3 Championship Sunday Weigh-In
Link to Photo Gallery of Day 3 on-the-water Highlights
Link to Video of Fish-Catch Highlights of Day 3 from the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes

“Fancy” has not been the way to win tournaments in Florida lately. Last week, Robert Branagh basically did one thing to win at Okeechobee, and Bobby Lane didn’t have to get very creative for his win on the Harris Chain . This week, Armstrong continued the trend, locking big line and a big stick in hand and picking apart one area day after day, flip after flip.

Fishing the pads in the mouth of the creek that flows out of Tiger Lake, Armstrong used one of the lesser-fished sections of the Kissimmee Chain to great effect. On the first day of practice, Armstrong toured Kissimmee and found too many people in a lot of it – and some fish on the south end. On the second day, he went to Tiger.

“I didn’t know what I was getting myself into running that creek,” he said. “But we ran that creek, and when I came around that last bend, I sat the boat down, and I just started pitching around. Once I got up in there, my rod just started just getting annihilated, fish just jarring my rod like crazy. I didn’t set the hook. I just started learning the area, pitching around a little bit, and I just kept getting bites.”

Getting a lot of bites that he thought were big, Armstrong spent some time picking the zone apart, and then he did a lap around Tiger.

“I spent the rest of the day in Tiger going in a circle and I got one bite,” Armstrong said.

After the first couple days of practice, and maybe with the benefit of hindsight, Armstrong realized he’d put together a bit of a pattern.

“Whenever I came in there, I noticed some flow leaving; it was going out from Tiger to Kissimmee, and I knew it was shell bars there. I felt them,” he said. “I had some flow, and I knew it was getting cold. I thought the current was holding them there because of the cold weather. That was my key. And, honestly, I got bites down on the southern end of Kissimmee, and it was it was current-related hard edge, on pads, and they were stacked, so there was a pattern.”

Pattern aside, Armstrong didn’t end up needing his fish in Kissimmee – all that mattered for him was the fish in Tiger. Flipping a variety of beaver-style baits in several colors, he used a 3/4-ounce weight, a 5/0 Owner Jungle Flipping HD hook, 60-pound-test Sunline XPlasma Asegai, an 8.5:1 Shimano Curado DC and an 805 Dobyns Champion XP . With dialed tackle, he combed each patch of pads with an extremely methodical approach.
His slow approach was the product of the size of the area, and it allowed him to attempt to line up his flips to bolster his landing ratio.

“I think it was more circumstantial as far as the way the area is set up,” Armstrong said. “It was a small area, so I could go as slow as I wanted and still work the whole area if I wanted because it was so small. There were fish everywhere.”

From there it was a matter of getting enough bites and converting on enough of them every day. When it was all said and done, Armstrong made a monumental win look pretty breezy.

“It doesn’t seem real, because winning doesn’t happen in fishing at high levels very often,” Armstrong said. “Most of the time [it’s] never for most people. To win is just unbelievably special to me.

“The sport means a lot to me,” he went on. “I literally think about, watch, it’s everything fishing, every single day of my life, regardless of where I’m at or what I’m doing. I love fishing. I love everything about fishing, and to win at such a high level against these guys that are legitimately the best in the world, it’s kind of surreal.”

The top 30 pros at the Tackle Warehouse Invitational Stop 1 on the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes Presented by VOSKER finished:

1st:        Ryan Armstrong, Robinson, Ill., 15 bass, 68-6, $80,000
2nd:       Drew Gill, Mount Carmel, Ill., 15 bass, 62-0, $30,000
3rd:       Banks Shaw, Harrison, Tenn., 15 bass, 61-10, $20,000
4th:        Joshua Weaver, Macon, Ga., 15 bass, 61-3, $18,000
5th:        Keith Poche, Pike Road, Ala., 15 bass, 59-10, $17,000
6th:        Joseph Webster, Hamilton, Ala., 15 bass, 58-12, $16,000
7th:        Colby Miller, Elmer, La., 15 bass, 53-6, $15,000
8th:        Alex Bradley, Wellford, S.C., 15 bass, 53-5, $14,000
9th:        Bobby Bakewell, Orlando, Fla., 15 bass, 53-3, $13,000
10th:     Jordan Wiggins, Cullman, Ala., 15 bass, 51-15, $12,000
11th:     Blake Hall, Rogersville, Ala., 15 bass, 51-4, $10,000
12th:     Dustin Smith, Trussville, Ala., 15 bass, 51-0, $10,000
13th:     Ron Nelson, Berrien Springs, Mich., 15 bass, 50-8, $10,000
14th:     Bobby Lane, Lakeland, Fla., 15 bass, 49-13, $10,000
15th:     Kennie Steverson, Umatilla, Fla., 15 bass, 48-10, $10,000
16th:     John Hunter, Shelbyville, Ky., 15 bass, 48-3, $10,000
17th:     Brody Campbell, Oxford, Ohio, 15 bass, 47-14, $10,000
18th:     Mitchell Robinson, Landrum, S.C., 15 bass, 42-6, $10,000
19th:     Cal Lane, Grant, Ala., 15 bass, 42-3, $10,000
20th:     Hayden Marbut, Birmingham, Ala., 15 bass, 42-0, $10,000
21st:      Matt Reed, Madisonville, Texas, 15 bass, 41-12, $9,000
22nd:    Jon Canada, Helena, Ala., 15 bass, 41-5, $9,000
23rd:     Spike Stoker, Cisco, Texas, 15 bass, 40-10, $9,000
24th:     Hunter Mills, Mayfield, Ky., 15 bass, 40-8, $9,000
25th:     Keith Carson, DeBary, Fla., 15 bass, 39-7, $9,000
26th:     Thomas Wooten, Huddleston, Va., 15 bass, 38-9, $9,000
27th:     Flint Davis, Leesburg, Ga., 13 bass, 37-15, $9,000
28th:     Paul Elias, Laurel, Miss., 13 bass, 35-4, $9,000
29th:     Matt Baty, Bainbridge, Ga., 14 bass, 34-4, $9,000
30th:     Andrew Nordbye, Guntersville, Ala., 13 bass, 32-10, $9,000

Complete results for the entire field can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Overall, there were 143 bass weighing 406 pounds, 1 ounce caught by the final 30 pros on Sunday. The catch included 26 five-bass limits.

The three-day tournament, hosted by Experience Kissimmee, featured a field of pro anglers competing for a top prize of up to $115,000 and valuable points to qualify for the 2025 Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Championship in September. The full field of anglers competed in the two-day opening round on Friday and Saturday in a five-fish, weigh-in format. Only the top 30 pros, based on their two-day cumulative weight, advanced to the final round on Championship Sunday, where they competed for the grand prize of up to $115,000.

Television coverage of MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Stop 1 at the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes Presented by VOSKER will air as a two-hour episode, premiering at 9 a.m. ET, on Saturday, Oct. 4 on CBS Sports Network.

The next event on the schedule for 2025 is the MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Stop 2 at Lake Hartwell Presented by Suzuki Marine, set for March 14-16 in Anderson, South Carolina.

Proud sponsors of the 2025 MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals include: 7Brew Coffee, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Bubba, Deep Dive App, E3 Sports Apparel, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Grizzly, Humminbird, Lew’s, Mercury, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, Polaris, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Strike King, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, VOSKER, WIX Filters and YETI.

For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Tackle Warehouse Invitationals updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the MLF5 social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

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